Merkel told Rajoy not to request further bailout

Source: El Pais - Mon 17th Dec 2012

PM Mariano Rajoy told EU leaders earlier this month that Germany had dissuaded Spain from asking for a full bailout because Chancellor Angela Merkel believed that it would be difficult to reach a consensus for approval.

Rajoy met with Cándido Méndez and Ignacio Toxo, leaders of the UGT and CCOO respectively, on December 3 to discuss his public-spending plans.

They were told that Merkel convinced Rajoy not to seek further aid from the EU because she feared that the request would not get favorable passage in the German parliament. At the same time, she was also concerned that the bailout plan would not get the unanimous approval needed from the rest of the 26 EU member states.